USA > Iowa > The blue book of Iowa women; a history of contemporary women; > Part 3
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The Blue Book of Iowa Women
MISS FLORA DUNLAP
"Let me live in a house by the side of a road, Where the race of men go by-
The men who are good and the men who are bad, As good and as bad as I. I would not sit in the scorner's seat, Or hurl the cynic's ban-
Let me live in a house by the side of the road And be a friend to man."
A wish to help, was the object which prompted the establishment of the Roadside Settlement House in Des Moines, than which there is no more helpful insti- tution in all the state. For the past ten years Miss Flora Dunlap has been head resident and in that time the settlement has grown from a small struggling or- ganization to one of the most prominent and best equipped in the State. The Roadside Settlement House was opened in September, 1896, under the aus- pices of the Des Moines Union of Kings Daughters. Later the management was vested in a settlement as- sociation with a Board of Directors composed of men and women prominent in business, social and profes- sional life in Des Moines. In 1905 the present house was erected in an industrial neighborhood known as the Southeast Bottoms. The building contains an equipment for public baths, a public wash house, a gymnasium, assembly hall, library, day nursery, cook- ing and manual training rooms, club rooms and rooms for resident workers. In 1913 a cottage next door to the main building was fitted up as a model cottage, the furnishings being simple and of the kind any young people in the neighborhood might purchase in the es- tablishment of a home. In this cottage lessons in
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The Blue Book of Iowa Women
housekeeping and housewifely arts are taught.
The settlement is entirely non-sectarian and is open seven days in the week. It is a social and civic center and the best proof of its usefulness is the number of people of all ages who go in and out of its doors every day. Young people find here wholesome recreation and instruction. The people helped are for the greater part, hard working people, earning small wages, try- ing to raise their families decently and honestly. There are no parks in this neighborhood or recreation grounds of any sort. Very few have much money to spend for pleasure and that is why this building means so much to them. Here they come for books, for amusements, for employment and above all for fellow- ship and sympathy without which life were a dreary place indeed. In a large measure the genius which makes this work effective is the head resident, Miss Flora Dunlap, who did volunteer work in Kingsley House, Pittsburg, Goodrich House, Cleveland, and at Hull House, before taking charge of this settlement. Besides this work she is vice-president of the Des Moines School Board, the first woman elected to that body. She is president of the Iowa Equal Suffrage Association and has done much to carry forward the dignified campaign in this State for equal suffrage. She represents Iowa on the Board of the National Suffrage Association. She is a member of the National Child Labor Committee, the National Trade Woman's League, and of the National Settlement Association. She is a woman of a great heart and a keen mind-a combination which always accomplishes great things.
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The Blue Book of Iowa Women
MRS. DIXIE CORNELL GEBHARDT
Mrs. Dixie May Cornell Gebhardt, was born Nov. 18, 1866, in Knoxville, the daughter of Dr. Riley Norman Cornell, born Sept. 11, 1824, in New York state, married Oct. 8, 1847, to Mary Fletcher Timmonds, who was born in Kentucky, Aug. 1, 1827. They came to Knoxville, Ia., March, 1850, where Mrs. Cornell died March 2, 1900, and Dr. Cornell, April 10, 1912, at the age of 87 years. He was a graduate, with honors, of the Geneva Medical College, New York. He was as- sistant surgeon of the 23rd regiment of Iowa troops and surgeon of the 40th regiment during the Civil War. He was for sixty-five years a member of the Masonic Order, a man who brought honor to the State.
The daughter was christened Dixie, in memory of her mother's southern home. She was educated in the public schools of Knoxville and in the Visitation Con- vent of Evanston, Ill. On June 27, 1900, she was married to George Tullis Gebhardt, at Knoxville. She is a member of the Presbyterian church, has served the P. E. O. sisterhood as its national recording secre- tary, is a member of Sorosis and a Bay View graduate. She is a member of the Mary Marion chapter D. A. R. and has served the state society as recording secretary since 1911, being an officer of unusual efficiency. Through her father she is descended from Benjamin Knowlton, an officer in the New Hampshire troops which marched from New Ipswich to Cambridge on April 19, 1775 ; he was in the battle of Bunker Hill and the Siege of Boston. Mrs. Gebhardt was a devoted daughter to her father and mother in their declining years, giving all her time to their care and companion- ship. She is a woman of fine mind and gentle manner, a woman who has friends in all parts of the state.
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The Blue Book of Iowa Women
MISS FLORENCE BRINKMAN
Florence Brinkman, pianist, was born in Keokuk, July 17, 1888. She is the only daughter of Geo. A. and Alice C. Breitenstein. Her grand parents on both sides were natives of Germany, and came to Keokuk in 1840. Her mother is descended from the von Breitensteins, the ruins of whose ancestral castle are still to be seen on the Rhine.
Miss Brinkman graduated from the high school in 1906 and the following September entered the Chicago Musical College from which she graduated with hon- ors. She took a post-graduate course, receiving hon- ors in that, also. She has the degree B. M. She re- ceived the gold medal for excellence in theory. She studied theory under Adolph Brune and piano with Paul Stoye and Hans von Schiller. While in Chicago she appeared both as accompanist and soloist in con- cert with some of the leading singers and violinists of this country. In the autumn of 1913 she went to Ber- lin to continue her studies at the Stern's conservatory and will do further work in Vienna. She is a brilliant pianist with a remarkable knowledge of tecnique. She is intellectual in her playing and understands what she wishes to express. One critic says, "She puts poetry into her playing." She is a young woman of ambition and her home city is very proud of her, and some day we shall all say with pride, "Miss Brinkman is an Iowa girl," for she is certain to succeed in her ambitions.
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The Blue Book of Iowa Women
MRS. MARGARET WARNER MORLEY
One of the first settlements in Iowa was the village Montrose on the Mississippi river. It was here on Feby. 17, 1858, that Margaret Warner Morley was born. She is the daughter of Isaac and Sarah Robinson Warner, who were Iowa pioneers living in a cabin as did all their neighbors. Shortly after the birth of their daughter they returned to the East where she was edu- cated for the profession of teaching, being graduated from the New York City Normal College in 1878. She taught in the Oswego, N. Y., Normal School, in the Milwaukee, Wis. Normal School and in the High School at Leavenworth, Kan. She also taught biology in Armour Institute, and in the free kindergarten as- sociation training class of Chicago. She has delivered lectures in many cities. Her specialty is biology and she has written many books and magazine arti- cles on the beginnings of life, and how to teach chil- dren the simple laws of biology and nature study. In 1913 she contributed a series of articles on nature studies for the Outlook which received most favorable criticism. Many of her books are used as supplemen- tary readers in the schools. They are attractively il- lustrated and the children love them. Among her books are "A Song of Life," "A Few Familiar Flow- ers," "Life and Love, "Flowers and Their Friends," "The Bee People," "Seed Babies," "The Honey Makers," "Little Wanderers," "Down North and Up Along," "The Insect Folk," "Little Mitchell," "Wasps and Their Ways," "The Renewal of Life," "Grasshopper Land," "Donkey John of the Toy Vil- lage" and "The Insect Folk." Mrs. Morley lives at Tryon, North Carolina.
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The Blue Book of Iowa Women
MRS. W. D. EVANS
Mrs. Julia Stark Evans of Hampton, a native of Ill- nois, is yet a true daughter of Iowa in education sym- pathy and long residence. Her education was com pleted by a course at the State University and it was here that she met her husband, W. D. Evans, now Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Iowa. The mar- riage took place in 1879, after Judge Evans' gradua- tion from the collegiate and law departments of the University and one year before the completion of Mrs. Evans' course. After she had been married thirteen years and was the mother of four children she com- pleted her course and received the degree B. Ph. The necessary study was done in her own sitting room sur- rounded by her children, the examinations being taken at the University at different periods.
Although Mrs. Evans has been prominent in the ac- tivities of the Congregational church, a state officer on its Missionary Boards, and a member of the Public Li- brary Board of Hampton, her literary ability much sought, it is yet in her children that the result of her strong and masterful life is felt. A happier home, children more sanely reared it would be hard to find. The family consists of six sons and daughters; all ex- cept the youngest have been graduated from college and received advanced training in music and in the professions. Their broad education is expressed in practical industry most valuable in the communities in which they live. With duties at home so manifold it was not possible that Mrs. Evans should give a great deal of time to clubs, until within the last five years. She is an efficient member of the committee on Legislation of the I. F. W. C. and has rendered a
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The Blue Book of Iowa Women
great service in her book "Laws of Iowa Relating to Women and Children." Its appearance is most timely just as Iowa women are stepping into greater politi- cal responsibility. Her keen intellect has made her a very sympathetic companion to Judge Evans. His parents were born in Wales. They came from Wis- consin to Williamsburg in 1858. Here their son re- ceived his early education, entering the State Uni- versity in 1873 and taking the classical and law courses. He was admitted to the bar in 1879 and lo- cated at Hampton. From 1886 to 1890 he was attor- ney of Franklin county. In 1902 he was elected Judge of the district court. In 1907 and 1908 he was law lecturer at the State University. In 1908 he was elect- ed judge of the Supreme Court and in 1909 became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. A series of pro- motions such as these, tell their own story.
In her general influence Mrs. Evans has been an ex- ample at good cheer, an apostle of courage, a minister of faith and love. She has been blest with a clear spiritual vision which sees in every duty an opportu- nity for building eternal interests.
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The Blue Book of Iowa Women
MISS ANNE B. DAVIS
Anne Britton Davis is the daughter of Calab Forbes Davis and Caroline Thistle Cox who were married in Keokuk in 1856. Their home was continuously in that city, the remainder of their lives. Judge Davis was born in Clarksburg, W. Va., in 1829, died in Keokuk, Jany. 6, 1898. Miss Davis' mother was a Virginian by birth, the daughter of Friend and Susan Cox. She was an unusually handsome woman of very strong character. After the death of Judge Davis she still kept the home, a large octagon stone house, in the cen- ter of a big lawn-a picturesque place, one of the land marks of the city.
Mrs. Davis died Feby. 9, 1913. Judge Davis was prominent in public life; for years he was special inspector of the public land service by appointment of Pres. Benj. Harrison. He was a man of literary ability and compiled twelve volumes of local history and biography which are of incomparable value as state history. He had an American Indian collection which experts say surpasses that of the Smithsonian Institute. He presented to the Keokuk High School a collection of mounted birds of several hundred varieties. Largely through his intervention with the Department of the Interior, the bones of Chief Keokuk were brought to that city and buried be- neath a monument erected by popular subscription. This monument has since been surmounted by an in- comparable statue of the old chief, Miss Anne B. Davis, Judge Davis' daughter, being one of the eight women of the Daughters of the American Revolution to bring about the completion of this work begun by her father so long ago. Five children were born to Judge and Mrs. Davis,-James Cox Davis of Des
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The Blue Book of Iowa Women
Moines, general council for the Chicago & North West- ern R. R., in Iowa. Frank Wells Davis, cashier of the Keokuk Savings Bank of which his father was one of the founders; Caleb Forbes Davis, of Seattle, Wash .; Caroline Thistle, the wife of Dr. Frank M. Fuller and Anne Britton.
Miss Davis was born in Keokuk, educated in the schools of that city and at Hosmer Hall in St. Louis. She is a woman of marked ability, interested in every- thing for the public good. She is a member of St. John's Episcopal church and devoted to all of its in- terests. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the Y. W. C. A. and its corresponding secretary. She is a director of the Benevolent Union, a charity organi- zation, a director of the Civic League and is a member of the Mentor Reading Club. For ten years she was secretary of the Keokuk Country Club and is an ex- pert golfer. She has won eight trophies : one loving cup represents the Trans-Mississippi Golf Championship, and other trophies were won in Southern California contests. She is a member of the Keokuk Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, being a de- scendant of Isaac Cox, who fought in the Pennsylvania troops. He administered the oath of allegiance in 1877 to the people of Washington county, Penn., when they renounced fidelity to King George of Great Britain. Miss Davis is a daughter worthy of her father and mother, true to the traditions of her ances- try and her family, which is praise indeed.
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The Blue Book of Iowa Women
MRS. JAMES SIMPSON BELLAMY
Mary Alice French Bellamy was born at Knoxville, Ia., Feby. 9, 1859, where she has lived all her life. She is the daughter of Dr. Jedediah Tingle French and Mary Ann Crisler, both of whom are descended from Revolutionary stock and whose ancestry is traced back seven generations. She was educated in the pub- lic schools, receiving her musical education in the In- dianapolis conservatory. She was married to James Simpson Bellamy on Feby. 13, 1879. Five children form the family, Paul E., aged 33, who was educated at Cornell ; Herbert, age 31, also educated at Cornell; Earl Delmar, age 28, a graduate of the State Univer- sity at lowa City; Rebekah Imogene, age 21, a junior in the North Western University, and Mary Marguer- ite, age 16, a senior in the Knoxville H. S.
Mrs. Bellamy is a member of the M. E. church and for more than twenty-five years has been a member of the choir. She has been a member of the P. E. O. sis- terhood since 1886 and has served her chapter as presi- dent. She has been worthy matron of the O. E. S. for two years. She has been a member of the Rebekah lodge since 1872 and was the state president for two terms. Through her recommendation the two orphans' homes at Mason City were established. She is a busi- ness woman of ability, having taken charge of the Knoxville Electric Co. for two years while her husband was engaged in extending his business interests in Des Moines. She has been a mother to a nephew who is now a captain in the regular army stationed at Hono- lulu, and to a niece who was educated at the North Western University and is now a missionary in West China.
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The Blue Book of Iowa Women
MISS MARGARET GAY DOLLIVER
Miss Margaret Gay Dolliver who is Dean of Women of Morningside College, Sioux City, was born on a farm near Kingswood, Preston county, West Virginia. She is the daughter of the Rev. James J. Dolliver and Eliza J. Brown. Her father spent over forty years in the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal church, for the greater part in the mountains of West Virginia. The family moved to Ft. Dodge, Iowa, in 1881. Miss Dol- liver received her preparatory education in the schools of Ft. Dodge, later attending the Ohio Wesleyan Col- lege at Cincinnatti, graduating in 1886. She took post graduate work in the North Western University 1905- '06. Taught in Fort Dodge schools 1886-'90. Upon the death of her mother she made a home for her father and her brother, J. P. Dolliver, from 1890-'95. In 1895 Miss Dolliver accepted a position in Morningside Col- lege and since that time has devoted herself to the edu- cational interests of the young women of that institu- tion, being Dean of Women. She is a member of the Education Committee of the I. F. W. C. She is a mem- ber of the P. E. O. sisterhood and of a number of local clubs. She is a woman of broad mind and splendid Christian character. Beside the late J. P. Dolliver she has two other brothers, Robert H., a Methodist minis- ter in Rochelle, Ill., and Victor B., an attorney in Ft. Dodge, and a sister, Mrs. E. R. Graham of Evanston.
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The Blue Book of Iowa Women
MRS. A. R. DEWEY
Sarah Rousseau Dewey belongs to one of the honored pioneer families of this state. Her father, Dr. W. H. Rousseau, came to Washington, Ia., in 1844, and for many years successfully practiced his profession there. Her mother, Electa Atwood, died at the early age of thirty-four years. Sarah Rousseau was married May 20, 1873, to Almon Ralph Dewey, a young attorney, who made rapid strides in his profession. For twelve years he served as district judge and by his just and impartial decisions, and by his knowledge of law won the respect and approval of the bar and the confidence of the public. He was a man of high rank in the Ma- sonic order and was honored with many state offices. He died April 15, 1905, at the age of 60 years. Two children were born to Judge and Mrs. Dewey, Mrs. Mable Dewey Brookling, of Pueblo, Colo., who is a singer of remarkable talent, and Charles Almon Dewey, a successful attorney, who is serving his third term as attorney of Washington county. He was mar- ried Sept. 1, 1911, to Miss Jessie Laffer. Mrs. Dewey is a devoted member of the M. E. church and teaches a class of fifty members in the Sunday school. She is a member of the P. E. O. sisterhood and has served in its highest office, that of president of the Supreme Chapter. She was chairman of the committee which compiled the History of the P. E. O. sisterhood. For eight consecutive years she has been president of the Nineteenth Century Club and is a member of the Wed- nesday Reading Club. She is interested in civic affairs having been a director of the Washington Chautauqua and is president of the Rest Room Association. She is a widely read woman and a woman of charming per- sonality.
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The Blue Book of Iowa Women
MISS M. MARGARET BAKER
Miss Baker has rendered a peculiar service in the establishment of diet kitchens in hospitals and by com- piling a book, "Recipes for Nurses," giving sick diet for patients under various conditions. She took her first training in the Department of Domestic Economy at the Iowa State College, which ranks among the finest institutions of its kind in the world. She took further work in Columbia University, N. Y. She was the first dietitian in the Iowa Methodist Hospital in Des Moines, from there she went to St. Joseph's Hos- pital in Chicago and organized the dietetic department there. She is now head of the Domestic Science de- partment of the Wisconsin Dunn County School of Ag- riculture and delivers lectures in the state on dietetics and domestic science. Her father, Ira Baker, who was born in Marion county in 1852, is the oldest hard- ware and implement merchant in Iowa. Her mother, Emma Reynolds Baker, is a native of Iowa, her pa- rents coming here in 1850. The Reynolds family has been prominent since pioneer days. Miss Baker's grandmother, Mrs. Reynolds, resides in Des Moines, and is able to tell interesting and thrilling stories of the early days in Iowa and of the dark days of the Civil War, when she, like other brave women of that day, cared for the family and the farm while her husband fought for the preserva- tion of the Union. Beside her professional work Miss Baker has found time for church work, Y. W. C. A., P. E. O. and local clubs. She is one of the successful young women of Iowa.
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The Blue Book of Iowa Women
MISS ETHA JOSEPHINE BABCOCK
There are people whom once having met, you always remember. I can't fancy anyone's ever forgetting Josephine Babcock. Her face is always radiant and she is so clever that her personality makes an impres- sion not easily effaced. By profession she is a Journal- ist and has contributed to many newspapers and peri- odicals. She has a smooth, interesting style and one always reads her articles to the last word. She is the daughter of the late Nathan Lee Babcock, the son of Stanton and Thirza Babcock of New York. He was a soldier in the Civil War of Co. C, 19th Iowa Infantry. Her mother, Ophelia Smith Babcock, is directly de- scended from Samuel Rogers of Revolutionary fame. Miss Babcock was educated in the public schools, Washington Academy and the Iowa Wesleyan College where she was an Alpha Xi Delta. She is a trained librarian, had charge of the library in Washington and worked one summer with a story teller in Hamilton Park, Chicago, this being a branch of library work. She is especially interested in public play grounds and all that benefits children. She is a member of the D. A. R. and of P. E. O. and has served the Iowa Federa- tion of Woman's Clubs as recording secretary. She is chairman of the Press Committee of the first district. Miss Babcock enjoys travel and she loves people, of all kinds and conditions and makes friends with them all.
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The Blue Book of Towa Women
MISS LILLIE WEST BROWN BUCK
The great majority of people who have read the bright and readable musical and dramatic criticisms by "Amy Leslie," have failed to recognize in the nom de plume, Lillie West Brown Buck, who was born in West Burlington, Oct. 11, 1860. Her parents, Albert Warring West and Kate Webb West, lived in West Burlington for many years and their daughter received her early education in the schools there. In 1876 she was graduated with honor from St. Mary's Academy at Notre Dame, Ind. As a child she was far above the average in her school work and her clever, quick mind gave promise then of the ability developed in the woman of later years. Her musical ability while she was yet a child was also evident. She has a clear soprano voice of unusual range and sweetness. She sang the leading roles as Lillie West in Audran's, Of- fenbach's and Pianquettes operas. She was the origi- nal Fiametta in La Mascotte and in other soprano roles. As prima donna she appeared in the principal cities of America and in many European cities. She has been for years dramatic critic for the Chicago Daily News under the pen name of Amy Leslie. She is the author of a number of books, among them "Amy Les- lie at the Fair," "Some Players," and "Plays and Players." Early in life she was married to Harry Brown, who died in 1890. In 1891 she was married to Franklin Howard Buck, a native of Texas. They have a beautiful home, The Roost, 265 Crescent Ave., Nor- wood Park, Chicago.
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The Blue Book of Iowa Women
MRS. EDWARD LE MOYN BUTLER
Florence McNaughten Butler of Oskaloosa was born in Superior, Nebr., Jany. 27, 1884. She is the daugh- ter of Moses Gilbert MeNaughten and Carrie Elizabeth Flint. Her father is of Scotch descent, the family com- ing originally from the Mac Nachtan Stronghold on the shores of Loch Awe in Argyllshire, Scotland. He was born in Caladonia, N. Y., at the time when it was exclusively a Scotch settlement. Mrs. MeNaughten is the daughter of Dr. Amos Flint who was a surgeon in the regular army. They trace their ancestry to the orig- inal holders of the Flint castle in Wales. Mrs. Butler studied oratory and physical culture in Omaha, later completed a course in the Cunnock school of oratory at Evanston. She is a member of Zeta Phi Eta, a national oratorical sorority. She has appeared as a profession- al reader for several years, having done a good deal of Chautauqua work. She also has charge of the children's story hour in the public library. She was married on June 27, 1906, in Villisca to Edward Le Moyne Butler, who is connected with the Oskaloosa Savings Bank. His parents, Frederick and Delilah Kendig Butler, were Iowa pioneers, coming from Ohio in 1852. One son has been born to them, Frederick Mc- Naughten Butler. Mrs. Butler is an active member of the Presbyterian church, is a member of the P. E. O. sisterhood and of the Woman's Club. Her mother, Mrs. McNaughten, has been a prominent P. E. O. for years, having served as president of the Nebraska Grand Chapter.
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